Collapsible container



Ngvl 12', 1935. H. w. HATTEN 2,020,834

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed oct. 25, 1934 771/972' for.' larry ldjfaz'erz 220. METALLIC RECEPTACLES.

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES Search Roof PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Harry W. Hatten, Chicago, lll.

Application October 25, 1934, Serial No. 749,897

5Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible containers and more particularly to collapsible containers adapted for the housing of chickens and other fowls. Obviously the container herein described may be employed for holding any desired articles.

The main object of the invention is to provide a collapsible container which is a unitary structure, all of the walls and the top and bottom being hingedly connected together, and the interior of the container when not collapsed being accessible without removal of the top.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible container embodying my invention, the same being shown in its assembled, collapsible form.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken on the line M of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse, vertical sectional View of the left hand side of the container as shown in Fig. 2 but in collapsed position.

In that embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate in the drawing, I indicates the bottom of the container, preferably made of metal and rectangular in form, provided with upright flanges I I at its edges, forming a shallow box. The end walls I2 and I3 are preferably made of metal screen and frame members, hingedly connected by hinges I4 and I5, respectively, to the bottom III near the end iianges II. When the end walls |2 and I3 are collapsed they rest on the bottom I0.

The side walls I6 and I1 may also be made of metal screen and frame members. Said walls are connected to the inner surfaces of the side iianges II adjacent the bottom I0 by double hinges |8 and I9, respectively. Each double jointed hinge comprises (Figs. 3 and 4) a plater 20 formed with a barrel 2|, a second plate 22 and barrel 23, and a wire loop 24 engaged at opposite sides within the barrels 2I and 23. The plate 20 is secured to the flange II and the plate 22 to the inner surface of the side wall.

'I'he top of the container comprises two twopiece sections. One of these sections consists of the member 25 hinged at 26 to the side wall I6, and a second member 21 hinged at 28 to the first top member 25. The member 21 rests between the under surface of the member 23 and the inner surface of the side wall I6 when the container is collapsed. The hinge 28 permits the member` 21 to move upwardly so that it may rest on the upper surface of the member 25 to aord limited access to the contents of the container, and

said hinge also permits the member 21 to move downwardly so that it may rest between the under surface of top member 25 and the inner surface of side wall I 6 when the container is collapsed. The other top section consists of a member 29 hinged at 30 to the side wall I'I, and

a second member 3| hinged at 32 to the free edge of the first mentioned top member 28.

When the side walls I 6 and I 1 are in their upright positions the hinge plates and 22 are 15 in substantially the same vertical plane, but when the walls are collapsed, the plate 22 moves into a horizontal plane with the side wall to which it is attached to a point inwardly of the vertical plane of the plate 20, and the loop 24 assumes 20 an inclined position as shown in Fig. 4. This construction accommodates the folded top sections and the end walls which are beneath the side walls I6 and I1 when the container has been collapsed.

Devices for retaining the collapsed walls in position may comprise any suitable means, such as the spring metal members 33, fastened to the outer surface of the end flange II, and having ends 34 extending through the flange I I into a 30 recess 35 in each of the side wall anges 36. 31 and 38 indicate cooperating latching devices on the top members 21 and 3|, respectively, for holding the uncollapsed top members in closed position. 35

To collapse the container, the end walls I2 and I3 are first moved inwardly and downwardly to rest on the bottom I0; the top 21 is folded under top member 25, and both folded down against side wall I6; the top 3| is folded under 40 top 29 and both folded down against side wall I1; then side walls I6 and l1 are moved on the double jointed hinges I8 and I9, respectively, so that the outer surfaces of said side walls form the top of the collapsed container and the folded top members are between the side walls and end walls. The collapsed members are all within the confines of the flanges II.

The side and end walls are shown herein as made of metal frame and screen members, to provide ventilation for the live contents, but obviously each wall may be of one piece and solid construction when the container is intended for holding inanimate objects.

No separate cover or other detached member is required for retaining the collapsed walls within the shallow box provided by the bottom I8 and flanges` l I and my container is thus entirely self-contained and unitary in character.

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible container comprising a bottom, end and side marginal flanges extending upwardly from the bottom, end walls hingedly connected to the bottom and foldable to rest on the bottom, two side walls, double jointed hinges connected to the inner side of the side walls on which the side walls are mounted within the side flanges so that the side walls will abut said flanges in set up position, and a jointed top section hingedly connected to the upper margin of each side wall, said top sections being foldable to lie beneath the side walls and said side walls being swingable on said double jointed hinges away from said flanges to form the top surface of the container when collapsed.

2. A collapsible container comprising a bottom, end and side marginal iianges extending upwardly from the bottom, end walls hingedly connected to the bottom and foldable to rest on the bottom, two side walls, double jointed hinges connected to the inner side of the side walls on which the side walls are mounted within the side anges so that the side walls will abut said anges in set up position, and a jointed top section hingedly connected to the upper margin of each side wall, said top sections being foldable to lie beneath the side walls and said side walls being swingable on said double jointed hinges away from said :flanges to form the top surface of the container, ush with the upper edges of said fianges, when collapsed.

3. A collapsible container comprising a bottom, end and side marginal iianges extending upwardly from the bottom, end walls hingedly connected to the bottom and foldable to rest on the bottom, two side walls, double jointed hinges connected to the inner side of the side walls on which the side walls are mounted within the side flanges so that the side walls will abut said flanges in set up position, and a jointed top section hingedly connected to the upper margin of each side wall, said top sections being foldable to 1 lie beneath the side walls and said side walls being swingable on said double jointed hinges 5 away from said anges to form the top surface of the container when collapsed, the inner member of one of the jointed top sections being movable to rest against either the top or bottom surface of the other member of said top section. 10

4. A collapsible container comprising a bottom, end and side marginal flanges extending upwardly from the bottom, end walls hingedly connected to the bottom and foldable to rest on the bottom, two side walls, double jointed hinges con- 15 nected to the inner side of the side walls on which the side walls are mounted within the side anges so that the side walls will abut said iianges in set up position and swing inwardly and upwardly relative to said anges in collapsed position, 20 a jointed top section hingedly connected to the upper margin of each side wall, said top sections being foldable to lie beneath the side walls and said side walls forming the top surface of the container when collapsed, means on the inner 25 members of each top section for latching the same together, and means on an end iiange for engaging the end edges of the side walls when collapsed.

5. A collapsible container comprising a bottom, 3o end and side marginal flanges extending upwardly from the bottom, end walls hingedly connected to the bottom and foldable to rest on the bottom, two side walls, double jointed hinges connected to the inner side of the side walls on 35 which the side walls are mounted within the side flanges so that the side walls will abut said anges in set up position and swing inwardly and upwardly relative to said flanges in collapsed position, a two-piece, jointed top section 40 hingedly connected to a side wall, a top section hinged to the other side wall, the inner member of the two-piece top section being movable upwardly and downwardly relatively to the other member, and al1 of said top members be- 4;, ing foldable to lie beneath the side walls, and said side walls forming the top surface of the container when collapsed.

HARRY W. HATI'EN. 

